Violet Lavonia Brewer

Violet “Lavonia” Brewer passed from this earth on January 17, 2013 at the age of 95. She was born on September 3, 1917 to Arthur Oliver and Ethel Mae Jernigan in Lapanto, Arkansas. She was the beloved mother of Virginia Louise Bates of Broken Arrow, Okla., Herbert David Brewer of Mead, Okla., and Charles Edward Brewer of Pauls Valley, Okla. She married Herbert W. Brewer on September 18, 1938 and they began their life together in Seminole, Okla. After a brief time in Illinois they moved to California during the war where Lavonia assisted in the war effort working as a welder in the shipyards - a bona fide ‘Rosie the Riveter.’ In 1944 they moved back to Oklahoma and followed Herbert’s work with Halliburton to several places. In 1957 they settled in Pauls Valley where she lived until she moved to the Broken Arrow Nursing Home in Broken Arrow, Okla., in February 2010. During her years in Pauls Valley, she was very active in the community. She served as a faithful member of the Eastern Star Chapter 185. She was an avid Bridge player, active in her Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church and catered reunions for Pauls Valley High School. She may be best known as the owner of the Korner Cafe in downtown Pauls Valley for many years. Lavonia was the definition of kindness, gentleness and patience. She always looked for the good in everyone and never focused on their faults. She never let anything fluster her, putting up with the antics of her husband, kids and the many animals they drug home, including skunks, snakes and pigs. She found joy in hospitality and service to others. Years of service in the local Eastern Star chapter helping with community service projects was a testament to this. She was also the great matriarch of the family always arranging dinners, reunions, picnics or any other event that would bring the family together. As soon as one event was over she was on to planning the next. In her later years, when her eyesight and hearing were diminished and she was unable to be the organizer of events, she delighted in watching the children play while she sat in her recliner. Family was everything to her. She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert Brewer; parents Arthur and Ethel Jernigan; sisters Virginia Jernigan, Ravenelle Williams, and Eleanor Judkins; brother Arthur Jernigan Jr.; and great-grandchild Gabriel Nester. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law John and Donna Jernigan; her daughter and son-in-law Virginia and Carter Bates, son and daughter-in-law David and Frieda Brewer, and son Charles Brewer, 8 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be held at Wooster Funeral Home, 1601 South Chickasaw, in Pauls Valley, OK 73075, on Sunday, January 20 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, January 19. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com.

Violet Lavonia Brewer

September 3, 1917 - January 17, 2013